$5,000 bail set for Worcester policeman accused of domestic assault

Thursday

Oct 3, 2013 at 6:00 AM

By Craig S. Semon, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

DUDLEY — A Worcester police officer accused of domestic assault is being held on $5,000 bail, with the stipulation that if he posts bail he would be under house arrest and made to wear an electronic monitoring device.

Robert A. Farrar, 42, of 170 Prince Road, Southbridge, is charged with assault and battery, aggravated assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (a belt) and possession of Percocet, all in connection with a domestic assault arrest Thursday at his home.

Mr. Farrar was being held until a dangerousness hearing today in Dudley District Court, but the district attorney's office, with consent of the alleged victim, withdrew the request for a dangerousness hearing in favor of bail and subsequent house arrest.

In court Mr. Farrar wore a blue Boston Red Sox hoodie that concealed his face, and he was shielded at times by the notepad of his attorney, Anthony M. Salerno. Judge Robert J. Pellegrini ordered Mr. Farrar to stay 100 yards away from the alleged victim, as well as the residence, which is Mr. Farrar's home and scene of the alleged assault.

However, Mr. Salerno told Judge Pellegrini that they had yet to secure another residence for Mr. Farrar's house arrest, if or when he makes bail.

According to a joint recommendation on conditions of release, Mr. Farrar must wear an electronic monitoring system with exclusion zones including a residential address that was impounded, Bay Path Vocational Technical High School in Charlton, Shepherd Hill Regional High School in Dudley and Charlton Middle School, Charlton.

In addition, Mr. Farrar will be placed under house arrest, with allowances only for work, legal, medical, counseling and other conditions as set by probation.

Furthermore, Mr. Farrar must abide by a restraining order, which has also been impounded.

Mr. Farrar has surrendered all his weapons, and Worcester and Southbridge police have been notified of the situation.

Mr. Farrar's permit to carry a firearm has been revoked.

While Assistant District Attorney Terry J. McLaughlin and Mr. Salerno agreed to an order to impound the joint recommendation as to conditions of release and any documents related to it, Judge Pellegrini denied the motion, except for the residential address.

Mr. Farrar is a 19-year veteran of the Worcester Police Department. He was placed on paid administrative leave, per department policy in such instances. As a result, the Worcester Police Department's Bureau of Professional Standards is conducting an internal investigation into the matter.